First Call to Prayer (Adhan)

After the Hijra, Muhammad established the call to prayer (adhan) to summon Muslims to communal worship. He chose Bilal ibn Rabah, the freed Ethiopian slave, to be the first muezzin due to his beautiful, powerful voice.

Bilal’s selection demonstrated Islam’s rejection of racial and social hierarchies—a former slave of African origin held one of the community’s most honored roles. The adhan became one of Islam’s most distinctive practices, and Bilal called the faithful to prayer for the remainder of Muhammad’s life.